O.C. D.A. receives award for stopping fraudulent massage school transcripts

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

OCDA TONY RACKAUCKAS RECEIVES ‘2011 HEROES OF THE PROFESSION’ AWARD FOR HIS EFFORT IN PASSING ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas was awarded today, along with California State Senator Lou Correa and the California Massage Therapy Council, the 2011 Heroes of the Profession award by Massage Today for their support and effort in passing California Senate Bill (SB) 285, the anti-human trafficking legislation that makes it a misdemeanor to sell fraudulent and false massage school transcripts.

Unethical businesses operating under the guise of massage parlors used the ability to purchase fraudulent massage therapist diplomas as a cover for the operation of prostitution rings. The only reason to sell these certificates, transcripts, or diplomas is to defraud the public and provide a cover story for those engaged in human trafficking to continue violating human rights by forcing women to engage in forced sexual slavery. The women tend to be indigent foreign nationals who have few resources.

SB 285 aims to impact human trafficking by making it a misdemeanor to provide “a certificate, transcript, diploma, or other document, or otherwise affirms that person has received instruction in massage therapy knowing that the person has not…”

Violators may be punished with up to one year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

Massage Today is a well-established publication from the company MPA Media, which distributes information, news and updates about alternative health and wellness professions, including massage therapy. To view the article on the award, please go to www.massagetoday.com and select the article titled, “2011 Heroes of the Profession.”

To read the press release on the passage of the bill, please select the Aug. 2, 2011, press release titled, “California Passes Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation Targeting Sale of Fraudulent Massage Diplomas as Front for Forced Prostitution,” under Press Releases/Media Advisories at www.orangecountyda.com.

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